Multi-cable spreader tool



Jan. 3, 1967 s. B. BOGESE 3,295,830

MULTI-CABLE SPREADER TOOL Filed June 4, 1965 INVENTOR. STEP/AFN 5, 505555,

19 T TOE/V5 Y6:

United States Patent 3,295,830 MULTI-CABLE SPREADER TOOL Stephen B. Bogese, Roanoke, Va., assignor to Virginia Plastics Company, Roanoke, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed June 4, 1965, Ser. No. 461,444 6 Claims. (Cl. 254131) This invention relates to linemens tools, and more particularly to an implement for spreading apart the conductors of a multi-conductor cable to provide adequate conductor clearance or separation when installing connectors for making a service connection or for extending the cables in a powerline system, or the like.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved conductor-spreading tool of the type adapted to be inserted between the conductors of a multiconductor cable and which has notches or recesses in its edges to interlock with the conductors, said tool being simple in construction, being easy to insert between the conductors of a multiple-conductor cable, and being easily operated to spread apart the conductors and to retain them in separated positions.

A futher object of the invention is to provide an improved spreader tool for use in spreading apart the conductors of a multiple-conductor cable, and being of the type adapted to be inserted between the conductors of a multi-conductor cable and which has notches or recesses in its edges to interlock with the conductors, the tool being inexpensive to fabricate, being durable in construction, and being arranged to securely and reliably support the conductors in separated positions to provide con- Venient access to the individual conductors without damage to the insulation there-of.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved conductor-spreading tool of the type adapted to be inserted between the conductors of a multi-conductor cable and which has notches or recesses in its edges to interlock with the conductors, said tool being light in weight, being compact in size, being provided with impact-receiving surfaces which can be struck by a hammer without damaging the working edges of the tool, and enabling connections to be made to the conductors of a multiple-conductor cable rapidly and with minimum loss of time in preparing for desired connections.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved spreading tool constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of use of a pair ,of spreading tools according to the present invention in spreading apart the conductors of a multiple-conductor cable, preparatory to making con nections thereto.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal crosssectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a pictorial view showing the manner in which a tool according to the present invention is first inserted between the conductors of a multiple-conductor cable in the first stage of the process of separating the conductors preparatory to making connections thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a pictorial view, similar to FIGURE 5, illustrating the second stage in the process of separating the conductors.

FIGURE 7 is a pictorial view, similar to FIGURES 5 and 6, showing the final stage of separating the conductors prior to making connections thereto.

Referring to the drawing, 11 generally designates an improved conductor-separating tool according to the present invention, said tool comprising a plate-like main body 12 which is integrally-formed at one end thereof with an elongated insert-ion finger 13 having a tapered end 14, the finger being adapted to be inserted between the conductors of a multi-conductor cable, in a manner presently to be described. At its opposite end the body 12 is integrally-formed with a handlebar portion which is substantially in longitudinal-alignment with the insertion finger 13, said handlebar portion being designated at 15, and terminating in a substantially squared end portion 16 provided with an aperture 17 which may be employed to receive the shank of a screwdriver or similar implement for rotating the tool, as will be presently described.

The implement is preferably made of durable, impactresistant insulating material, such as nylon, or the like.

The relatively wide plate-like main body portion 12 is formed at its opposite edges with spaced notches for receiving the conductors of a multiple-conductor cable. Thus, the main body portion 12 may be formed at one edge thereof with a first notch 18 and at the opposite edge thereof with a pair of spaced notches 19 and 20, enabling the tool to be employed with a three-conductor cable for separating the conductors thereof. Obviously, additional notches may be provided if the tool is intended to be employed with cables having a greater number of conductors.

It will be seen that the main body portion 12 of the device has its maximum width substantially at its central portion the notches 18 and 19 being located at said maximum-width portion of the body, and the remaining notch 20 being spaced a substantial distance from the notch 19, and likewise being spaced a substantial distance from the opposing notch 18. Thus, the notches, 18, 19 and 20 define a triangle whose sides are of substantial length, thereby assuring that the conductors engaged in the respective notches will be spaced apart by substantial distances when the implement is employed in its intended manner.

The tool is provided, at its opposite edges, with continous raised marginal ribs 22, 22 which join adjacent the ends of the members 13 and 15, as shown at 23 and 24. There are thus provided the respective recessed surface portions 25, 25 on the opposite major faces of the main body portion 12 of the implement for receiving impacts from a hammer or similar positioning tool so that the spreading tool 11 may be forced between the conductors of a multiple-conductor cable by means of such a striking tool without damaging the edges containing the notches 18, 19 and 20. Such damaged edges would ordinarily tend to cause tearing or undesired abrasion of the insulation of conductors received in the notches.

Each of the notches 18, 19 and 20 is provided with a lining 27 of rubber-like material formed with suction cups 28, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The lining strips 27 may be suitably secured in the notches by means of any commercially available suitable cement, such as epoxy cement, the meeting surfaces of the insert strips 27 and the notches being preferably roughened prior to cementing the strips in the notches. As shown in FIG- URE 4, the opposite side edges of each strip 27 are spaced inwardly from the marginal ribs 22 adjacent the associated notch, enabling the ribs to act as fulcrum of slide-rail means adapted to pivot on cable conductors being engaged thereby without interference from the edges of the strip as the tool is rotated to a position transverse to the cable with which the tool is being used, as will be explained. The suction cups 28 provide vmaximum gripping action on the conductors, which normally have smooth surfaced insulation, such as polyethylene, or the like, having a low coefficient of friction.

In using the tool, the finger portion 23 thereof is first inserted between the conductors of a multiple-conductor cable, such as a triplex cable 30, as shown in FIGURE 5, thefinger 23 being inserted between the pair of insulated conductors 33 and 34 and the bare ground wire 35. The beveled end 14 of the finger member 13 facilitates the entry of the finger member between the conductors. After the implement has been inserted sufficiently between the conductors to bring the widened main body portion 12 thereof in the region between the conductors 33, 34 and 35, the implement is rotated 90, as shown in FIGURE 6, either by manually-grasping the handle portion 15, or by means of a screwdriver or similar rod-like implement inserted through the aperture 17-, which may then be employed as a handle. In this stage of the operation, the conductors 33, 34 are respectively engaged in the notches 19 and 20 and the ground wire 35 is engaged in the opposite notch 18. The conductors are thus spreadapart in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6.

A second implement 11 may be inserted between the spread-apart conductors and forced away from the first implement 11 after being rotated to the transverse position thereof, in the manner illustratedin FIGURE 7. A hammer or other striking implement may be employed to drive the conductor-separating tools 11, 11 apart to provide a desired amount of separation therebetween and to thereby provide suflicient access to the separated conductors 33, 34 and 35 to make the necessary connections thereto. As above-mentioned, by providing the striking surfaces 25, driving impact may be applied to said surfaces without marring or damaging the edges of the implements containing the notches 18, 19 and 20. Also, as previously-mentioned, the marginal ribs 22 serve as slide-rail or fulcrum elements for the conductors, facilitating the rotation of the implements to positions transverse to the cable. After the tools 11, 11 have been properly positioned, for example, have been adjusted to the positions thereof shown in FIGURE 2, the friction strips 27, provided with the suction cups 28, as above-described, securely grip the conductors and serve to hold the implements in their spread-apart positions, enabling the desired connections to be easily made to the conductors. I

After the connections have been made, the spreading tools 11, 11 are rotated 90 from the positions shown in FIGURE 2, thereby disengaging the cable conductors from the notches 18, 19 and 20, allowing the tools to be extracted from between the conductors. The conductors thereafter resume their normal twisted configuration.

Although illustrated as employed with a three-conductor cable, the tool of the present invention may obviously be designed with four or more notches, so that it may be employed with cables having more than three conductors;

The beveled tip 14 of the insertion finger 13 is preferably relatively sharp, having an angle of convergence of less than This small angle facilitates the easy insertion of the finger 13, which is also somewhat tapered, between the conductors in the initial stage of separation thereof by means of the tool. As previously-mentioned, as soon as the relatively wide main body portion 12. of the tool is between the conductors, the tool is rotated 90 with the conductors engaged in the notches of the tool, thereby giving the maximum spread of the conductors. The second spreader tool is inserted at a suitable distance from the first spreader tool, for example, a distance of eighteen to twenty four inches, and while the first tool is held stationary, the second tool is rotated in a direction to make the conductors parallel to each other in the space between the two spreader tools. With the usual type of triplex or quadruplex cable, this procedure gives a spre'ad'of from three-and-one-half to four-and-one-half inches between the conductors, enabling a'lineman to easily strip the conductor insulation, as required for the attachment of a connector to each conductor.

As will be apparent, with the spreader tools inserted between the conductors in the manner above-described, the conductors will be held separated, and by suitablyv supporting the tools, the conductors can be maintained in parallel relationship while the connectors are being installed thereon.

The tapered tip 14 can be readily resharpened, whenever necessary. Also, the friction inserts 27 may be easily replaced whenever required.

While a specific embodiment of an improved multiconductor cable-spreading tool has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-conductor cable-spreading tool comprising a plate-like main body having a central portion of maximum width, said body being formed with notches at opposite edges thereof, at least one of said notches being located at said maximum-width portion, said notches being adapted to receive electrical conductors to be spread apart, and an elongated insertion finger extending from one end of the main body, said finger having a tapered free end portion adapted to be inserted 'between the conductors of a multi-conductor cable, whereby the finger may be engaged between said conductors and the main body lodged therebetween, after which the main body may be rotated with the conductors engaged in the notches, causing the conductors to be spread apart.

2. A multi-conductor cable-spreading tool comprising a plate-like main body formed with notches at opposite edges thereof adapted to receive electrical conductors to be spread apart, and an elongated insertion finger extending from one end of the main body and being substantially coplanar therewith, and an actuating-handle element extending from the opposite end of said main body substantially coplanar therewith, said finger having a tapered free end portion adapted to be inserted between the conductors of a multi-conductor cable, whereby the finger may be engaged between said conductors and the main body lodged therebetween, after which the main body may be rotated to a transversely-extending position relative to the conductors with the conductors engaged in the notches, causing the conductors to be spread apart.

3. A multi-conductor cable-spreading tool comprising a plate-like main body having a central portion of maximum width, said body being formed with at least one notch at one edge thereof and with a plurality of spaced notches at the opposite edge thereof at least one of said notches being located at said maximum-width portion, said notches being adapted to receive electrical conductors to be spread apart, and an elongated insertion finger extending from one end of the main body, said finger having a tapered free end portion adapted to be inserted between the conductors of a multi-conductor cable, whereby the finger may be engaged between such conductors and the main body lodged therebetween, after which the main body may be'rotated to a transversely-extending position relative to the conductors with the conductors engaged in the notches, causing the conductors to be spread apart.

4. A multi-conductor cable-spreading tool comprising a plate-like main body formed with notches at oppothe conductors of a multi-conductor cable, whereby the finger may be engaged between such conductors and the main body lodged thercbetween, after which the main body may be rotated to a transversely-extending position relative to the conductors with the conductors engaged in the notches, causing the conductors to be spread apart.

5. A multi-conductor cable-spreading tool comprising a plate-like main body formed with at least one notch at one edge thereof and with a plurality of spaced notches at the opposite edge thereof, said notches being adapted to receive electrical conductors to be spread apart, said notches being provided with lining elements of rubber-like material formed with suction cups, an elongated insertion finger extending from one end of the maid body and being substantially coplanar therewith, and an actuating-handle element extending from the opposite end of said main body substantially coplanar therewith, said finger having a tapered free end portion adapted to be inserted between the conductors of a multiconductor cable, whereby the finger may be engaged between such conductors and the main body lodged therebetween, after which the main body may be rotated to a transversely-extending position relative to the conductors with the conductors engaged in the notches, causing the conductors to be spread apart.

6. A multi-conductor cable-spreading tool comprising a plate-like main body formed with at least one notch at one edge thereof and with a plurality of spaced notches at the opposite edge thereof, said notches being adapted to receive electrical conductors to be spread apart, said notches being provided with lining elements of rubberlike material formed with suction cups, an elongated insertion finger extending from one end of the main body and being substantially coplanar therewith, and an actuating-handle element extending from the opposite end of said main body substantially coplanar therewith, said finger having a tapered free end portion adapted to be inserted between the conductors of a 'multi-conductor cable, whereby the finger may be engaged between such conductors and the main body lodged therebetween, after which the main body may be rotated to a transverselyextending position relative to the conductors with the conductors engaged in the notches, causing the conductors to be spread apart, said main body being provided at its opposite edges with raised continuous marginal ribs defining interior impact areas on the opposite faces of said main body for receiving impacts from a positioning tool.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,672,066 6/1928 Johnson 25450.1 1,895,055 1/1933 Steinour et al. 30-315 2,841,364 7/1958 Pratt 254-1 3,021,381 3/1962 Wengen 174--146 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Examiner. 

1. A MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLE-SPREADING TOOL COMPRISING A PLATE-LIKE MAIN BODY HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION OF MAXIMUM WIDTH, SAID BODY BEING FORMED WITH NOTCHES AT OPPOSITE EDGES THEREOF, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID NOTCHES BEING LOCATED AT SAID MAXIMUM-WIDTH PORTION, SAID NOTCHES BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS TO BE SPREAD APART, AND AN ELONGATED INSERTION FINGER EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF THE MAIN BODY, SAID FINGER HAVING A TAPERED FREE END PORTION ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED BETWEEN THE CONDUCTORS OF A MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLE, WHEREBY THE FINGER MAY BE ENGAGED BETWEEN SAID CONDUCTORS AND THE MAIN BODY LODGED THEREBETWEEN, AFTER WHICH THE MAIN BODY MAY BE ROTATED WITH THE CONDUCTORS ENGAGED IN THE NOTCHES, CAUSING THE CONDUCTORS TO BE SPREAD APART. 